Entering Death Valley, the University of Arkansas was given little chance to test No. 1 LSU as a 43.5-point underdog. But for the first 20 minutes of Saturday's game, the Razorbacks were dreaming big before reality set in.
Connor Limpert's 47-yard field goal with 9:43 left in the first half pulled the Razorbacks to within 7-6, but Heisman Trophy front-runner Joe Burrow led the Tigers on three TD drives in the rest of the first half and the rout was on as the Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 56-20 in interim Coach Barry Lunney Jr.'s debut.
After Limpert's field goal, LSU outgained Arkansas 229-9 in yards for the rest of the second quarter.
It took LSU less than 2:30 of clock to score the game's first touchdown. Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for a 37-yard score.
In Jefferson's first series as a starter, he picked up a first down on a third-and-3 pass to Mike Woods. On third and 11, Jefferson tucked the ball and took off, but he ran out of bounds 3 yards short of the marker, forcing the Razorbacks to punt. The ball was downed at the LSU 7.
The Razorbacks forced an LSU punt after a three and out, and the Hogs took over at their own 45 with 7:10 left in the first quarter. LSU appeared to have a stop on third and 11, but a roughing-the-passer penalty extended the drive. Jefferson then hit Treylon Burks for a 31-yard gain to the LSU 10 while rolling to his right. Limpert capped the drive with a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 3:39 left in the quarter.
After defensive lineman Jonathan Marshall tackled Burrow for a 5-yard loss and LSU was whistled for holding, the Tigers could not pick up a first down while facing second and 26 and punted on the first play of the second quarter.
A 26-yard punt set Arkansas up at its own 39. Facing a third and 16, Jefferson completed a screen pass to Rakeem Boyd, who turned up field to pick up 29 yards and a first down at the LSU 38. The Hogs then had a third and 14 at the LSU 28, but Jefferson overthrew his target, and Limpert's 47-yard field goal pulled the Razorbacks within 7-6 with 9:43 left in the first half.
LSU's offense woke up and drove 75 yards on six plays, with the big play coming when Burrow found Thaddeus Moss for 30 yards to the Arkansas 11. Tyrion Davis-Price put LSU up 14-6 with a 2-yard TD run.
Arkansas went nowhere on the next drive, and the Tigers took over at their own 37 after a fair catch on a 39-yard punt.
Burrow completed 3 of 3 passes on the drive, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire took a first down handoff and ran untouched for a 27-yard TD run to put LSU up 21-6 with 3:17 left in the half.
Jefferson looked like he was going to pick up a first down on a third-and-5 run, but he slid a yard short of the first down, Sam Loy punted to the LSU 10.
The Tigers drove 90 yards in 1:37, going up 28-6 on Burrow's 10-yard TD pass to Justin Jefferson with 14 seconds left in the first half.
Burrow finished the first half 20-of-25 passing for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For Arkansas, Jefferson completed 5 of 11 passes for 56 yards. He also ran nine times for 26 yards.
LSU outgained Arkansas 309-100 in total yards in the first half, but the Razorbacks held the edge on time of possession 16:33 to 13:27.
Arkansas opened the second half with a 38-yard connection from Jefferson to Burks, but Limpert missed a 45-yard field goal with 12 minutes left in third quarter.
After Burrow completed an 18-yard pass to Chase, the wide receiver fumbled and Kamren Curl recovered for Arkansas at its own 43. But the Hogs went three and out, and LSU took over at its own 15 after a punt.
After Edwards-Helaire ran for 35 yards, Burrow connected with Chase on a 50-yard TD pass for a 35-6 edge with 7:48 left in the third.
Arkansas lost 6 yards on its next possession, and Edwards-Helaire upped the Tigers' edge to 42-6 on a 26-yard TD run.
Nick Starkel relieved Jefferson on the Hogs' next drive and picked up a pair of first downs with passes to Woods and John David White, but the Razorbacks were forced to punt.
On the first snap of LSU's next drive, Edwards-Helaire ran 89 yards for a TD and 49-6 lead. That gave the Tigers three TDs on four plays in their three previous drives.
LSU took a 56-6 advantage before Jack Lindsey entered the game at quarterback for the Razorbacks. He ran for 30 yards, then hit Woods for a 24-yard touchdown strike to cut the Razorbacks' deficit to 56-13 with 8:35 left.
Arkansas recovered an onside kick at the LSU 11 after several players batted the ball down the field. After a pass interference penalty on the Tigers, Devwah Whaley ran the ball in from 2 yards out as the Hogs pulled with 56-20.
Jefferson finished the game 7-of-14 passing for 105 yards.
LSU outgained Arkansas 612-304 for the game.
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